First lady Michelle Obama slammed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in a campaign speech for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire Thursday, saying his controversial comments about women were "cruel" and should not be dismissed as "locker room banter."

"This is not something we can ignore, not something we can sweep under the rug," Obama said, referring to a vulgar conversation Trump had with former "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush in 2005.

"The idea you can do anything you want to a woman, it is cruel," she said. "It is frightening."

Michelle Obama also made passing reference to a number of women who came forward by Wednesday night to accuse Trump of inappropriate sexual behavior, as evidence the tape is not an isolated incident. Trump has fervently denied he acted inappropriately toward any of the women who came forward.

"I can tell you the men in my life do not talk about women like this. I know my family is not unusual," she said adding, "they are loving fathers who are sickened by the thought of their daughters being exposed to this kind of vicious language about women."

.@FLOTUS, I'm in awe. Thanks for putting into words what's in so many of our hearts. -H